Apparatus and systems having an encased adsorbent contactor and swing adsorption processes related thereto

Abstract

Provided are encased parallel channel adsorbent contactor apparatus and systems and swing adsorption processes related thereto. Encased parallel channel adsorbent contactors are useful in swing adsorption processes. A plurality of the encased adsorbent contactors are loaded and sealed together in a swing adsorption vessel such that substantially an entire feed stream must pass through the channels of the contactors and not through stray gaseous stream paths between contactors.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is the National Stage entry under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT / US2012 / 026797 that published as Intl. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 118755 and was filed on 27 Feb. 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 448,117, filed on 1 Mar. 2011, each of which is incorporated by reference, in its entirety, for all purposes.[0002]This application is related to U.S. patent application No. 61 / 448,120 entitled APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS HAVING A RECIPROCATING VALVE HEAD ASSEMBLY AND SWING ADSORPTION PROCESSES RELATED THERETO, filed Mar. 1, 2011; U.S. patent application No. 61 / 448,121 entitled METHODS OF REMOVING CONTAMINANTS FROM A HYDROCARBON STREAM BY SWING ADSORPTION AND RELATED APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS, filed Mar. 1, 2011; U.S. patent application No. 61 / 448,123 entitled APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS HAVING A ROTARY VALVE ASSEMBLY AND SWING ADSORPTION PROCESSES RELATED THERETO, filed Mar. 1, 2011; U.S. patent applicatio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Provided are encased parallel channel adsorbent contactor apparatus and systems and swing adsorption processes related thereto. Swing adsorption contactor systems include: a plurality of hollow rigid liners each having an inner surface and open axial ends, adjacent liners being fixedly connected to each other; a monolith adsorbent contactor being disposed within each liner, each monolith adsorbent contactor having an outer surface spaced from the inner surface of the liner; a bonding agent being disposed in the space between the outer surface of the monolith adsorbent contactor and the inner surface of the liner to form a seal to prevent gaseous flow in the space.

[0010]Also, in accordance with the present invention, a method of assembling a swing adsorption contactor system is provided that comprises the steps of: fixedly connecting a plurality of hollow rigid liners to each other, wherein each of the liners has an inner surface and open axial ends; placing a monolith adsorbent contactor within each liner, each monolith adsorbent contactor having an outer surface, wherein the placing step includes spacing the outer surface of each monolith adsorbent contactor from the inner surface of each liner; placing a bonding agent in the space between the outer surface of the monolith adsorbent contactor and the inner surface of the liner to form a seal to prevent gaseous flow in the space.

Problems solved by technology

However, manufacture and installation of large diameter beds is a difficult engineering problem, which often results in a compromise design at a smaller diameter.

This typically results in greater expense and a larger equipment footprint.

Various engineering problems limit the flow through capacity of such adsorption vessels.

For example, larger contactors often provide unintentional and undesirable gaseous stream paths in regions between adjacent contactors.

This creates a significant problem because it is difficult to maximize the monoliths process area, while providing a robust mechanical support and hold-down structure aimed at retaining the monoliths in place during the unit operating cycles.

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